Machine for folding paper



IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEO. K. SNOW, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING PAPER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 7,722, dated October 15, 1850; Ressued April 3, 1860, No. 941.

.To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE K. SNOW, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful or Improved Machine for Folding Sheets of Paper; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and accompanying drawings, letters, figures, and references thereof.

Of the said drawings Figure 1, denotes a top view of my said improved machine. Fig. 2, is a frontelevation of it. Fig. 3, 1s a rear elevation of it. Fig. 4, is an elevation of one end of it. Fig. 5, is an elevation of the other end of it. F ig. 6, is a transverse, and vertical section, taken through the middle of the last sliding folding plate. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section, taken through the second sliding folding plate.

In the said drawings A, represents the frame or table, by which the operative parts of the machine are supported. Above this frame, and parallel to it, is a slotted plate or surface B, which is supported by four or any other suitable number of posts a, a. This plateB, has an elongated slot, or passage b, made through its middle part, and of a lengt-h somewhat greater than the width of the sheet of paper of the largest size the sheet is calculated to fold. On the upper surface of the plate B, suitable gauges C, C', C2, may be ahixed, against which the edges of the sheet of paper may be made to rest in order to centralize it, or properly place it with respect to the slot b.

Above the slot of the plate B, directly in the plane of it, and perpendicular to the plate, is a thin frame, or metallic folding plate D, which is afliXed to, and made to project from a vertical slide rod E, which is supported by, and so as to be capable of sliding freely up or down, within an upright socket tube F, rmly fastened to the main frame. An arm G, projects horizon tally from the upper end of the socket tube, and directly over, and at a suitable distance above the slot b; the said arm being provided with a slot c, for the reception and steadying of the vertical plate D. The rod E, and of course the plate D, is elevated by means of a cam H, and a lever I. The said cam is fixed on the driving shaft K, and when the said shaft is revolved, the periphery of the cam is made to act or bear against a pin or stud d, which projects from the side of the lever I. The said lever turns in a vertical plane,'through the lower end of the rod E, and bears against a friction roller f, liXed on the lower part of the rod. The descent of the plate D, is effected by its own weight, or by a spring, or by a second pin d placed underneath the first stud cl, and which operates in connection with the cam I-I, as seen in Fig. G. Below the slot I), two plates L, M, are made to extend down to the top of the table or main frame; they being placed parallel to each other, and so that while the folding plate D, is made to descend from its highest to its lowest position, it shall pass directly between the said two plates.

Vert-ical slots or passages L, z', are made through the respective plates L, M, and so as to permit a second folding plate N, to pass directly through them, and the two plates, and in a plane at right angles to the said plates. The said second folding plate, is supported and slides within grooves, made in the upper side of the table top, and in the under side of the plate B, and it has a reciprocating rectilinear motion imparted to it at proper times by the actionof a/cam O, upon a lever P. The upper end of the lever P, passes through a staple la, while its lower end turns on a fulcrum or pin at Z. The lever is made to straddle the periphery of the cam as seen at mi; the cam being so formed as when revolved to not only impart to the plate N, the necessary movements, but to allow it to remain at rest, during such times as the first folding plate may be in performance of its operation on a sheet of paper, or in other words during that time which is occupied by the firstfolding plate in its descent and ascent.

The plate L may be provided with two lips n, o, made to eXtend from it at right angles; their object being to vprevent the edges of the slot of such plate from cutting or tearing the paper, during its passage through the slot. A thin folding plate R, is arranged horizont-ally, and at right angles to the plate L, and is made to pass througn a vertical slotted plate S. One or more top rollers p, p, and a bottom pressure roller g,

are used in connection with the folding plate; they being arranged with respect thereto as seen in the drawings. The lower roller g has its journals upheld on or by springs, one of which is seen at r. A reciprocating motion is given to the third folding plate in such manner as to cause it to pass through the slot of the plate s, and between the roller Q, and the rollers p, p, over it. During such movement of the plate it is caused to meet the sheet of paper, which has previously been twice folded, and to force it between the rollers in such manner as lto fold it a third time. Were nothing to prevent, the sheet of paper during the retrograde movement of the folding plate would drop down upon the table top, or be discharged from the machine. But as it is desirable to arrange the folded sheets in packs, an apparatus for accomplishing the packing of the sheets may be employed. This apparatus consists of two plates T, U, the former of which is stationary and is arranged with respect to the roller or rollers p, as seen in Fig. 6. Underneath the plate T, and tupheld by springs r, r, or suitable equivalents, the plate U, is placed.

The sheets of paper, as they are successively forced between and beyond the rollers p, 29, and g, are received between the two plates T, U, the lower one of which will gradually descend in proportion as the pack increases in size.

The folding plate R, is sustained by, and slides within a frame V, which is made to slide freely up or down upon two or more vertical. rods WV, W, and is connected to a horizontal plate or frame X, by rods s, s. The plates T, U, and the rollers p, p, g, are also supported by a frame Y, which is made to slide freely up or down on vertical rods t, t, and is connected to the frame or plate X, by rods u, u. The frame X has an elevating and depressing screw w, and nut m, so applied to it as to enable it to be readily raised or lowered as occasion may require, the frames V, and R, moving with it.

The reciprocating movements and intervals of rest, of the third folding plate, are regulated and produced by a. cam lv, acting against a projection w, from a lever z, whose fulcrum is at y, the upper arm of the said lever vbeing jointed to, o-r properly made to extend through the folding plate. The main, or cam shaft 7c, may be rotated by any proper means. In the drawings, it is shown as having a spur gear z, upon one end. lVith this gear, another gear a2 engages, the said gear a2 being made to turn upon a pin b2, and by means of. power applied to a crank c2, suitably fixed toit, (the gea-r.)

In the operation of folding a sheet of .paper, it is laid upon the plate B. The

first folder plate is next brought down upon the middle of it, and so as to force the sheet through the slot of the plate, and down between the retaining plates L, M. Next the folder plate D, rises upward to its original position and leaves the paper (folded once) between the said two plates. Next the second folding plate N, 1s advanced upon thesheet, forces it from between the two retaining plates, again folds it, places it in a position for the third folder plate to act upon it, and returns or retrogrades to its original position. The third folder plate next performs its oiiice, and produces the third fold, the first folder plate being also put in operation at the same time with the third, and on the next sheet of paper.

The rollers I employ in connection with the third folder,'do not seize the sheet and draw it away from the folder, and fold it independently of the folder, as do the moving and converging surfaces, used in the machine as patented on about the twenty seventh day of November, of the year one thousand, eight hundred and forty nine.

I do not claim as my invention any machinery in which paper is folded by being struck either upward or in any other direction, and in the line in which the fold is to be made, and from a surface on which it has been extended, and seized between converging surfaces, or converging and moving surfaces, which complete the fold and deliverthe folded paper. My invention consists principally in a combination of machinery or parts, in which the sheet is not seized completely folded and delivered,by converging and a moving surfaces, such as two series of endless tapes and rollers. I make use of no such contrivances, and their operative machinery, in combination with a mere bar or contrivance for acting against the middle of the sheet, and pressing such middle part between. such converging surfaces which seize the sheet, draw it away from the said bar or contrivance, complete the fold, and deliver the paper.

My improvement or combination, as invented and claimed by me, consists of the vextending at right angles from such su port, and so arranged that there shall e one of the said plates on each side of the slot b, of the first element or support of the sheet.

3. A striking and folding frame or plate (D) so arranged and operated as to press the paper against the middle or other proper part of it, force it downward through the slot, and between the two parallel plates,

the said parallel plates operating to com.- plete the fold, and to hold the sheet of paper during theY return or retrograde movement of the striking frame or plate.

4. And in combination therewith I claim-a second striking and folding plate (N) arranged at right angles to the said tWo parallel plates and made so to pass or operate through them or their slots, and direct-ly after the said retrograde movement of the first one, as to press against the sheet 0f paper, and force it through one of the said slots, and thereby once more or a second time fold it.

5. And I claim in combination with such second combination of mechanism, a third striking and folding plate, (R) and slotted parallel folding plate s, and friction rollers p, g, or equivalent contrivances, the same being for supporting the twice folded sheet of paper, folding it a third time, and subsequently discharging it, such discharge taking place in consequence of the return or retrograde movement of the striking or doubling plate as above described.

6. And I also claim the combination of mechanism Which is applied to the striking GEORGE K. SNOW.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, JUsTUs D. WAssoN.

[FIRST PRINTED 1913.] 

